Tax Experienced Senior, Private Client Services

BDO USA; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 92,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ESOP

Total Rewards benefits

Job summary

BDO USA’s Private Client Services practice delivers boutique tax and consulting services to high net-worth individuals and families. The team handles estate, gift, trust, and related planning, with emphasis on philanthropy, executive compensation, and cash-flow management.

The role involves preparing tax returns, researching complex issues, and advising PCS leadership while mentoring staff. A CPA or equivalent credential and several years in private client services are preferred, with

Qualifications

• Three (3) or more years of prior relevant tax experience in public accounting, private industry, or professional services
• Experience in private client services preferred
• Prior supervisory experience preferred

Responsibilities

• Participates in tax and consulting engagements and identifies client needs and opportunities
• Gathers information from clients and advisors to prepare tax returns
• Develops understanding of complex returns across various entities and jurisdictions
• Reviews basic returns and provides feedback to staff and interns
• Analyzes tax notices and drafts initial responses
• Conducts advanced tax research and develops recommendations for PCS leadership
• Works in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
• Assists with PCS responsibilities including billing and training
• Builds relationships with professionals inside and outside the firm

Skills

Client communication

Tax planning

Tax research

Leadership

Business development

People development

Time management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance/Economics/Statistics

CPA certification

Master's degree in Accountancy/Taxation (preferred)

Tools

Microsoft Office (Word/Excel/PowerPoint)

Adobe Acrobat

GoSystems

BNA Tax Planner

GoFileRoom

SurePrep

BNA Portfolio

CCH IntelliConnect

Checkpoint

LexisNexis

Job description

Job Summary

Private Client Services at BDO is a boutique practice within our firm. Offering a high touch approach, we have extensive experience serving high net-worth individuals, their families, family offices, C‑Suite executives, athletes, entertainers, as well as other people with complicated tax and financial structures. The Private Client Services Practice is experienced in all aspects of estate, income, gift, and trust tax consulting and compliance; charitable giving and philanthropic foundations; executive compensation; and cash‑flow, retirement, and life insurance planning.

Job Duties

• Participates in tax and consulting engagements and enhances skills identifying and addressing client needs, tax planning, and consulting opportunities
• Works directly with clients and their advisors to gather information needed to prepare tax returns
• Develops understanding of complex individual, trust, estate, S-Corp, foundation, partnership, and gift tax returns, both Federal and State jurisdictions, while demonstrating the ability to follow instructions and actively seek feedback
• Reviews basic individual and trust tax returns and provides written and verbal feedback to staff and interns
• Analyzes tax notices received from government agencies and prepares initial drafts of response
• Identifies technical issues, conducts advanced tax research, and develops sound recommendations for PCS leadership
• Works in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment both independently and within a team dynamic
• Prioritizes and completes tasks
• Assists with PCS/firm contribution responsibilities including billing, recruiting, attendance and participation in CPE activities and training
• Builds new relationships with other professionals both inside and outside the firm

Supervisory Responsibilities

• May supervise and manage the day-to-day work assignments of PCS Associates
• Provides verbal and written performance feedback to PCS Associates, as necessary
• Acts as mentor to PCS Associates

Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or Statistics, required; OR Bachelor's degree in other focus area and CPA certification, required
• Master’s degree in Accountancy or Taxation, preferred

Experience

• Three (3) or more years of prior relevant tax experience and/or public accounting, private industry accounting, or consulting/professional services experience, required
• Experienced in private client services, preferred
• Prior basic supervisory experience, preferred

License/Certifications

• CPA certification, Attorney (admitted to practice in a U.S. jurisdiction), or Internal Revenue Service Enrolled Agent (“EA”) (or the equivalent of one of these designations), preferred
• Possession of other professional degrees or certifications applicable to role preferred

Software

• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Suite (specifically Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and Adobe Acrobat, required
• Experience with tax compliance process software (GoSystems, BNA Tax Planner, GoFileRoom, SurePrep), preferred
• Experience with tax research tools (BNA Portfolio, CCH IntelliConnect, Checkpoint and Lexis Nexis), preferred

Languages

• N/A

Other Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Initiative
  • Works hard, putting in extra effort when necessary to complete their assignments within given deadlines; self-starting; doesn’t need to be explicitly told to put in this effort; when set, meets weekly/engagement hours expectations
  • Owns their own career and technical development; demonstrates self-awareness, actively pursues projects and learning experiences to fill in their technical knowledge gaps
• Communication
  • Expresses themselves effectively verbally and in writing; takes complex thoughts, synthesizes them into works using clear, concise language, and presents a cohesive narrative
  • Internally, communicates the status of their work to their team; promptly responds to requests
• Leadership
  • Leads by example, acting as a model for the firm’s core values
  • Takes on challenges; sees tasks through completion, even if there are obstacles
• Business Development
  • Participates in business development and networking activities
  • Seizes opportunities for new professional contacts when presented
• People Development
  • Ability to interact effectively with people at all organizational levels of the firm
  • Assists in supervision, development, and training of employees

California Range: $96,000 - $125,000

Colorado Range: $80,000 - $100,000

Illinois Range: $90,000 - $108,000

Maryland Range: $98,000 - $110,000

Massachusetts Range: $102,000 - $119,000

Minnesota Range: $80,000 - $95,000

New Jersey Range: $88,000 - $125,000

Ohio Range: $85,000 - $115,000

NYC/Long Island/Westchester Range: $110,000 - $125,000

Washington Range: $83,000 - $115,000

Washington DC Range: $105,000 - $117,000

About Us

At BDO, how we show up matters. We build strong relationships by supporting one another, our clients, and our communities with care, curiosity, and a commitment to helping one another grow and succeed. Here, you’ll find meaningful work, leaders invested in your success, and opportunities to build a career around what matters most to you.

Our purpose is to be the people our clients count on to grow with confidence and achieve what matters most. Our values guide how we bring that purpose to life each day. Together, they shape how we work with one another, serve our clients, and create meaningful impact.

BDO provides assurance, tax, and advisory services to clients across the U.S. and around the world. No matter your role, you’ll be part of a team helping clients navigate complexity and move forward with clarity.

We are proud to be an ESOP company, offering participants a stake in the firm’s success through beneficial ownership and a unique opportunity to enhance their financial well‑being. As a qualified retirement plan, the ESOP is a meaningful addition to our comprehensive compensation and Total Rewards benefits* offerings. It also reinforces an ownership mindset that strengthens our connection to one another, our clients, and the future we’re building together.

Learn more about our benefits: BDO Total Rewards encompass more than traditional benefits.

Benefits may be subject to eligibility requirements.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/vets

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

BDO USA, P.A. is an EO employer M/F/Veteran/Disability